Santa Ana, Calif - The Santa Ana College (SAC) softball team defeated visiting Golden West College 4-2. The Dons improve to 7-3 overall and 1-1 in OEC play while the Rustlers fall to 3-7 and 1-1.

Golden West opened scoring when Tanya Dowler, who reached on a one-out single in the first inning, scored when Katie Fredrickson reached on an error. The play should have resulted in the final out of the inning but gave the Rustlers an early 1-0 lead instead.

The Dons bounced back quickly in the bottom of the first, also capitalizing on an error. Alexandra Perkins drew a lead-off walk before stealing second base. Angelica Cesena then hit a RBI-single, scoring Perkins, before a Rustlers error allowed Cesena to score on the play, giving the Dons a 2-1 lead.

Perkins scored the Dons next run in the third run after drawing another lead-off walk. Cesena and Hannah Dowling followed with singles before Kaitlyn Hooper plated Perkins with a sacrifice fly, putting the Dons up 3-1.

Golden West cut the Dons lead to 3-2 in the fifth inning with a pair of doubles. Ciera Henson hit a one-out double before Cori O'Donghue hit a two-out, RBI-double to score Henson from second.

The Dons added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Cesena reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Rachel Prentice who reached on a single.

Taylor Burks closed the game out for the Dons with a perfect ninth inning, earning her first save of the season. Hooper improved to 6-3 after allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits over 5.2 innings pitched.